Multicolor refillable pencil



Nov. 13, 1951 w. CHATELAIN MULTICOLOR BEFI'LLABLE PENCIL Filed nay 19.1949

1 N V EN TOR.

. Patented Nov. 13, 1951 UNITED STATES Y PATENT OFFICE MULTIC'OLOR'REFILLABLE PENCIL Willy Chatelain, Lancaster, Pa.

Application May i9, 1949, Serial No. 94,110

7 Claims. (Cl. 1Z0-14.3)

, 1 This invention relates to multicolon reflllable pencils. It is an object oi' theinvention to pro/- vide a multicolor rellable pencil 'which'is simple and inexpensive in manufacture as well as easy and reliable in operation.

According 'to an important featureV of the invention, the'renllable pencil comprises 'a tubular shell within which there is concentrically "arranged an assembly consisting of a'member pro# vided with longitudinal grooves onits periphery, a distributor and a "chuck, aspring adapted Vto push the said assembly towardsthe back of the ahellwhile' said assembly 'is retained by the jaws of the chuck being in engagement wthiafconcal borefin 'thefront end of the shell. The grooves of thefsaid member 'are intended to vreceive leads of `ditlerent colors: the 'chuck is' screwed to the front end'of the distributor which is capable of being displaced axially but not angularly within the-shell together vvitl'ithev remainder oi the inner assembly while the grooved/member is .capable of angular displacements with' respect to the distributor in order that each of its grooves can be brought in register with a channel of the di'stributor communicating with the :inside Aof 'the chuck. Means are 'providedior marking the stoppage' 'oi' the f-g'rooved member when eachof the is in register -with the saidbhannel of the"distrillutor, and the groovedmemberis resiliently connected to the distributor in such'a way that when the said grooved member is turned to' bring another 'groove inregist'er with the channei'bf the distributor, it performs.' also, due to' the'said'resilient connection, a slight axial 'disV` placement away' 'from the distributor; said d isplacement being'due 'to the said'means for markig'the stoppage. A control knob projecting fromv the back end' of thesh'ell' permits control of both the frotatlon' of the grooved member vand of the axial-` displacement of the assenilzlly-` against the action of the` spring which'tends-1 to`push said assembly-towards the back ofthe/shell.

Further and morespecitl'c features and advantczes ofc-the Vinvention?fwill' 'more clearly" appear' from the "detailed description* given below" taken im'connoction with the l `-accompanying drawings which i'orin vpart 'of vthe specication and iillstrete-a preferred 4form* of construction yof the re"' nllablelpenciln In the drawings:

- llig.v 1 is an axial sectional-vi'ew-oia multicolor 1 rciiilablepencllY embodying the invention.'

o liiig'.l 2fis across sectional view taken'subs`tan Helly alongthe'line 2-2 of li'ig.. 1; and` Fim 3 :is-a crossfsectionalr :viewftaken substan'# 3-4 of Fig.; 1.:

The multicolor rellable `pencil shown in the drawings comprises -a tubular shell or casing I which is open at its rear extremity and theiront end of which is inthe yshape vof a truncated cone. This tapered frontend is formed with a conical bore 2 Widening towards the outside. Within the shell l there is concentrically arranged an assembly consisting of a'member 3, a distributor 4 and a chuck Il.

The member 3 is provided at its periphery with six longitudinally extending grooves 6; these grooves are 'arranged at 60 degrees from one another and extendfromy the frontend vof -the member througha lsubstantial length thereof; The grooves 6 are intendedto receive a leador chalk I 'in each of them, each of the'leads being of a different color. rTheV distributor 4 consists of a rear portion 8 and a front/portion 9.n The rear portion 8 consists of acylinder having along a diametrical plane a longitudinal channel' l0 the width of whichis equal to that of each of the grooves 6 of 'them'ember 3. The Adepth of the channel I0 however increases from the rend of the portion 8 which is 'adjacent the lmember 3 to the other extremity adjacent the portion 9; This depth of 'the channel l 0 varies from'a depth equal to 'that ofthe grooves 6 to a depth substantially equal to the diameter ofthe member 3; as shown in Fig. 1. TheV front portion '9"of the distributor hasto'wards the back' a portion having thesame outer diameter as theY portion'8`and iitting over theextremity of the 'said portion 8; Thelnside of this latter portion is in'the shape of a funnel Il the kbottom of which communicates with ran axial channel rI2 provided in their'ont part of the said portionv 9; This 'front part is of reduced diameter" and is "formed at itsfree end with 1a screw tapped recess I3 in which is screwed-the screw threaded extremity of the chuck 5. The latter is "also formed with an inner channelfll in' alignment with the Achannel 12.

lThe assembly consisting of the grooved lmem#l ber 3, the distributor 4 and the chuck, is 'pushed towardsthe vback ofthe 'shell I by means'fof :a spring I 5` resting'on `'the -one `hand 'on .the iront portions Vof the'di'stributon and on the'other hand, on a shoulder i6 on the inner wall oithe shell l'. The backward displacement'oi the'as sembly' is"limited by 'the'jaws 1l1 of the chuck being brought into engagement *with the 'conical bore 2 of the fshell which Aacts on vthe saidjaws to'close them. y

A longitudinal groove IB'is further provided 4"at degrees'from the channel` I0 in the rear-porev tions 8 of the distributor. Inthis' groove 18"'there is engaged the point of a rivet I8 passing-through" the wall of the shell I. This arrangement permits the distributor to be axially displaced within the shell while securing the said distributor against any angular displacement.

The grooved member 3 is provided with an axial recess I 8 which extends up to the rear extremity of the member 3 and whose bottom is pierced to give passage to a rod 20 having a head 2I. The screw threaded end of the rod 20 is screwed in a screw tapped hole provided in the rear face of the portion B of the distributor. Between the bottom of the recess I9 and the head 2 I, there is arranged a coil spring 22' surrounding the rod 2li and adapted to maintain the member 3 against the distributor while allowing it to be turned with respect to the distributor so as to bring any desired groove 6 in register with the channel II) of the distributor. the distributor is formed with a small projection 23 Vac'liacent to its periphery; this proiection may consist, for instance, either of the head of a rivet forced in the portion 8 of the distributor, or of a drop oi solder. The proiection 23 is intended to be brought into engagement with the ends of the grooves 6. When the proiection 23 is engaged in any certain groove 6. then another of the grooves is in register with the channel I0. Thus the engagement oi.' the projection 23 with a groove marks the stoppage of the grooved member when the latter is driven in rotation. The resilient connection between the member 3 and the distributor 4 through the medium ofthe spring 22 permits a slight axial displacement oi' the member 3 with respect to the distributor when the member 3 is turned to bring another groove 6 into alignment with the channel In. said displacement being due to the nroiection 23.

The inside of the recess I9 can be used as a receiver for snare leads. In the open rear extremitv of the shell I is engaged a control knob 24 which closes the recess I9 and is intended to operate the assembly consisting of the member 3. the distributor 4 and the chuck 5. The knob 24 is provided with a slotted extremity having somev resiliency and fitting the bore of the recess I9. The remainder of the knob has a diameter eaual to that of the bore of the shell I. Thus a shoulder is formed between the parts oi.' diierent diameters o1' said knob. In alignment with said shoulder. a pin 25 is engaged radially in the knob 24.' This pin comes to engage in a groove 26 provided in the rear edge of the member 3. Thus the knob 24 is adapted to cause the rotation of the member 3 by cooperation of the pin 25 with the groove 26. It operates further to produce an axial displacement oi' the assembly consisting of member 3, distributor 4, and chuck 5, against the action of the restoring spring I5, thus allowing the jaws of the chuck to spread apart.V

Behind its grooved portion, the member 3 has a hexagonal cross section, each side of which in alignment with a groove 6 and is colored accord-l ing tothe color of the lead which the correspond. ing groove is intended to receive. In front of the side that is in alignment with the groove 6 corresponding to the channel I0, there is an aperture 21 cut in the shell I through which the color of the side of the member 3 corresponding to that of the lead which is lodged in the groove merging into'the channel I 0 can be observed. v

Towards the inner end of the groove 6, the member 3 is formed with a circular groove 28 in which is lodged a resilient ring 29 intended to prevent the leads from jamming in the bottom of the grooves.

The rear face of 30 designates a clip intended to x the reiillable pencil to the edge of a coat pocket.

'I'he operation oi' the reiillable pencil shown in the drawing and described above is as follows:

A11 of the leads 1 are supposed to be lodged in the grooves 6. In order to use the lead having the desired color, the knob 24 is first turned until the said color appears through the aperture 21. At this stage, the groove 6 which contains the lead to be used is situated in alignment with the channel I Il of the distributor, that is to say in the position of the groove 6 shown at the upper part of Fig. r1. The rellable pencil is then inclined so as to have the chuck turned downwardly. The lead 1 of the groove concerned slides through the channel II) and penetrates into the channels I2 and I4. Simultaneously the knob 24 is pressed inwardly, thus axially displacing the assembly 3-4-5 against the action of the spring I5. 'I'he jaws of the chuck 5 spread apart and the' lead can enter the chuck. The length of the outwardly protruding lead portion is adjusted by hand and the knob 24 is then released. 'Ihe assembly 3 4-5 is restored back by the spring I5 and the jaws of the chuck are pressed against the lead by the wall of the conical bore 2 of the shell. The lead is now in position for use. Ii it is 'desired to use another lead of different color, the pencil is inclined so as to haveA the chuck turned upwardly and simultaneously the knob 24 is pressed. The assembly 3--4--5 is displaced again against the action of the spring I5. The chuck opens and releases the lead which slides through the channel I4 and I2 and further through channel I0 back to its groove 6. The knob 24 is thenE released and turned at-will until the desired color appears through the laperture 21. The groove which contains the lead of the corresponding color comes to a stop exactly in alignment with the channel III, due to the projection 23 engaging in a groove under the action of the spring 21 andy thus distinctly marking the stoppage of the grooved member. In order to bring this new lead into proper position for use, the operation previf ously described is repeated. In order to take the pencil apart, it is suilicient to unscrew the chuck I1, wherebythe member 3 and the distributor are released and can be removed through the rear portion of the shell I.

What I claim is:

1. A multicolor rellable pencil comprising in combination a tubular shell within which is concentrically mounted an assembly consisting of a member provided with longitudinal grooves on its periphery, a distributor having a channel and-'a chuck having a passage in communication with said channel, a spring tending to urge said as. sembly towards the back of said shell, said shell having at its front part a conical bore and the. jaws of the chuck cooperating with the wall oi' said conical bore to retain said assembly, the longitudinal grooves on said rr'ember being in tended to receive leads oi' different colors, saidf chuck being screwed to the front end of said dis' tributor and the latter being displaceable axially but not angularly within said shell together with` the remainder of said assembly, said groovedA member being capable of angular displacements with respect to said distributor so as to enable each of its grooves to be brought into alignment with said channel provided in the distributor,n means stopping said grooved member when any o1' the grooves is in alignment with said channel of the distributor, said grooved memberv being reilently Connected to the distributor whereby when said lgrooved'y member` ls turned? to bring= another f, groove in v alignment with fsaid fchannelrof 111erdistributor it may be axially. displaced from as the axial displacement of said'assembly against the'action of the spring which tends to urge said assembly towards the back of the shell.

2. A multicolor reilllable pencil according to claim 1 characterized by the fact that the disytributar consists of a rear portion and a front portion, said rear portion being constituted by a cylinder having in a diametrical plane a longitudinal channel the width of which is equal to that oi each of the grooves on the grooved member, the depth of said channel increasing from the extremity of the rear portion which is adjacent the grooved member to the other extremity, and said depth varying from a depth equal t that of the grooves to a depth substantially equal to the diameter of the rear portion of the distributor, the front portion of said distributor having at its rear end a part of the same diameter as the said rear portion of the distributor and iitting over the front end of said rear portion, the inside of said rear part being in the shape of a funnel the bottom of which communicates with an axial channel provided in the front end of said front portion, said front end being of reduced diameter rancl having at its free end a screw tapped recess in which` is screwed the threaded end of the chuck, said chuck being further provided with an inner channel in alignment with the channel of the distributor.

3. A multicolor rellable pencil according to claim 2, said distributor having a longitudinal groove arranged at 120 degrees from the channel of the rear portion thereof, said groove extending over the whole length of the rear portion of the distributor and over the part of the front portion thereof, the front portion being of the same diameter as the rear portion, a rivet passing through the wall ci' the shell and being engaged in said groove. whereby the distributor may be Aaxially displaced within the shell while being prevented from being turned.

4. A multicolor reflllable pencil according to claim 3, characterized by the fact that the groovedA member is provided with an axial recess extendving up to the rear extremity of said grooved member, and a, bore below and communicating with said recess, a headed rod being screwed in the rear face of the distributor and passing through said bore into said recess, and a coil spring inserted between the bottom of said recess and the head of said rod to urge the grooved member against the distributor while allowing it to be turned with respect to said distributor so as to bring any desired groove in registry with the channel of the distributor.

5. A multicolor reiillable pencil comprising in combination a tubular shell within which is concentrically mounted an assembly consisting of a member provided with longitudinal grooves on its periphery, a distributor having a channel and a chuck having a passage in communication with said channel, a spring tending to urge said assembly towards the back of said shell, said shell having at its front part a conical bore and the jaws of the chuck cooperating with the wall of said conical bore to retain said assembly, .the longitudinal grooves on said member being intended to receive leads `of diierent colors, said vlchuck vbeing fscrewed y-to athe f from. .fnd fQf :Sid

distributor and the `latter ybeing displaceable axially but not angularlyywithin saidshell together fwith Vthe vremainder of said gv-assembly, said grooved member being capable-of angular displacements-withj respect to said distri-butorso aszto lenable-each ofv its grooves to be broughtinto .alignmentwith said channel Vprovided, in the distributor, means stopping said groovedmember when. any` ofpthe,v groovesis in alignment-with--said vchannelof f the distributor, said grooved-'member being resiliently connected to the distributor whereby when said grooved member is turned to bring another groove in alignment with said channel of the distributor it may be axially displaced from said distributor to clear said means stopping said grooved member, and a control knob projecting from the back of said shell manipulable for the rotation of said grooved member as well as the axial displacement of said assembly against the action of the spring which tends to urge said assembly towards the back of the shell, the said distributor consisting of a rear portion and a front portion, said rear portion being constituted by a cylinder having in a diametrical plane a longitudinal channel the width of which is equal to that of each of the grooves on the grooved member, the depth of said channel increasing from the extremity of the rear portion which is adjacent the grooved member to the other extremity, and said depth varying from a depth equal to that of the grooves to a depth substantially equal to the diameter of the rear portion of the distributor, the front portion of said distributor having r. at its rear end a part of the same diameter as the channel provided in the front end of said front portion, said front end being of reduced diameter and having at its free end a screw tapped recess in which is screwed the threaded end of the chuck, said chuck being further provided with an inner channel in alignment with the channel of the distributor, a longitudinal groove arranged at degrees from the channel of the rear portion of the distributor, said groove extending over the Whole length of the rear portion of the distributor and over the part of the front portion thereof, the front portion being of the same diameter as the rear portion, a rivet passing through the wall of the shell and being engaged in said groove, whereby the distributor may be axially displaced within the shell while being prevented from being turned, the grooved member being provided with an axial recess extending up to the rear extremity of said grooved member, and a bore below and communicating with said recess, a headed rod being screwed in the rear face of the distributor and passing through said bore into said recess, and a coil spring inserted between the bottom of said recess and the head of said rod to urge to the grooved member against the distributor while allowing it to be turned with respect to said distributor so as to bring any desired groove in registry with the channel of the distributor, the rear face of the distributor being provided with a small projection adjacent its periphery said projection being intended to come into engagement with the ends of the grooves, one groove being stopped in alignment with the channel of the distributor each time the said projection engages a groove, the engagement of said projection in a groove marking the stoppage of the grooved member 7 when it is driven in rotation, the resilient connection by means of the spring lodged in the recess of the grooved member allowing the slight axial displacement ofthe grooved member with respect to the distributor.

6. A multicolor rellable pencil according to claim 5, characterized by the fact that said control knob closes the recess of the grooved member.

7. A multicolor rellable pencil according to claim 5. characterized by the fact that a portion of the grooved member is of polygonal cross section with just as many sides as there are grooves. x

each side being located in alignment with a groove and of a determined color the wall of the shell having an aperture to allow observation therethrough of the color of the side situated in front I of said aperture. said color corresponding to that of the lead lodged in the groove which communk Cates with the channel of the distributor. WILLY CHATELAIN,

No references cited, 

